The leader of activist group Stop The Hate UK has called for stronger action against antisemitism in Swiss Cottage.

The strike for action follows after the arrest of a 27-year-old man in the area on Friday for allegedly chanting Hamas support at a pro-Palestine protest.

A viral video captured the man saying phrases such as, “I love the 7th October” and “I love an organisation that starts with H”, seemingly referring to the Hamas attack on Israel last year that resulted in around 1,200 deaths and around 250 people being taken hostage.

The pro-Hamas supporter, who was detained on Saturday for suspicion of inciting racial hatred, was arrested again under the Terrorism Act 2000 for allegedly inviting support for a proscribed organisation. The UK government classifies Hamas as a terrorist group.

Following the arrest, the Metropolitan Police released a statement on Sunday morning which read: “Overnight the 27-year-old man was further arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation (S12 of the Terrorism Act 2000). He remains in custody.”

Itai Gal, who leads the activism group Stop the Hate UK, stands in opposition to the hate marches that have occurred in the country since the October 7 terrorist attacks.

The group on their X account vowed to get “terrorists’ supporters off our streets!”

He said what was seen in the viral clip had been happening on a “weekly basis” for almost a year in Swiss Cottage, where there is a significant Jewish community.

The same march happens every Friday as pro-Palestinian demonstrators march from the Swiss Cottage Library to the station. There is usually a police presence.

Itai added: “We see support and glorification of terror acts on a weekly basis here. We have complained to the police many times, who have refused to take any action but instead protect the demonstrators.

“We keep being reassured that the police respect our rights, but they are blindly ignoring it.”

Despite repeatedly complaining to authorities about the deeply offensive chants at the Swiss Cottage pro-Palestine marches, Gal said no action had been taken.

He continued: “We need the police to understand we are sickened by the situation in Swiss Cottage. We are approaching the High Holidays, and we just want to stop hate in Swiss Cottage and to stop people openly support terrorists and terror acts.”